League Two Fleetwood stun Premier League Arsenal 1-0 in Carabao Cup

Fleetwood Town, a League Two club, defeated Premier League champions Arsenal 1-0 in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on October 27, 2026, in one of the biggest results in the club's 15-year history as a Football League club. Adam Loupalo-Bi scored the opening goal as Fleetwood became the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.

The match was disrupted early when referee Michael Salisbury spotted a drone flying above Highbury Stadium in the second minute, just as Arsenal were awarded a free-kick. Play was halted for approximately eight minutes while the referee consulted with stadium safety officers, both managers, and players. Police investigated the drone operator, who was later located. The drone eventually flew away and landed in a nearby housing estate. Seven minutes of stoppage time were added to the first half because of the delay. Under Football Association guidance, the referee must stop play when a drone is sighted and advise both teams that play will not resume until the drone has left the vicinity.

Fleetwood's defensive organization restricted Arsenal throughout the first half despite the Premier League champions fielding senior players including Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, Jurrien Timber, and Martin Zubimendi. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta brought on additional players after halftime, including Martin Odegaard and Ben White, in an attempt to break down Fleetwood's disciplined defense. The victory means Fleetwood advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.